Folding lunch box table



y 1952 -P. K. RAASCH FOLDING LUNCH BOX TABLE Filed June 28, 1950 R.) m2 5 B W Z. WW 8 P m 2; '1 73W QOV i: f fli ATTORNEYS Patented May 6, 1952 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2 Claims.

This invention relates to lunchboxes particu larly of the metal type having a rectangular shaped base with a cover having upwardly converging walls, and in particular this invention relates to a lunchbox having a small folding table hinged to one side thereof and folded against the base and opposite side.

The purpose of this invention is to provide means for carrying a small folding table in combination with a lunchbox whereby the table is nested against the surface of the box so that the box may be carried without, inconveniencing the carrier and so that the table may readily be opened for use.

Lunchboxes are used under all kinds of conditions and in many instances it is difficult to find a surface upon which wrappers of sandwiches and the like may be opened without dust and dirt working into the sandwich. With this thought in mind this invention contemplates a small folding table which when extended is elevated above the surface upon which a lunchbox may be positioned thereby providing a table surface and which when folded is nested against the outer surface of the lunch box.

The object of this invention is, therefore, to provide means for forming a small folding table whereby the table may be folded against the surface of the lunch box in one position and extended for use as a table in another position.

Another object of the invention is to provide a folding table for lunchboxes and the like in which a compartment may be provided for napkins and other articles.

A further object of the invention is to provide a lunchbox having a folding table pivotally mounted thereon which is of a simple and economical construction.

With these and other objects and advantages in view the invention embodies a comparatively small folding table having a section at one end hinged tothe ends of the lunchbox, with an intermediate section hingedly connected to the edge thereof with a piano hinge that extends across the lower surface of the lunchbox, and another Figure l'is an end elevational view of a lunchbox showing a folding table nested against the sides and lower surface thereof.

Figure 2 is a longitudinal section taken on line 22 of Figure 3 showing the folding table extended and showing a portion of the lunchbox with parts thereof broken away.

Figure 3 is a plan view of the folding table taken on line 3-3 of Figure 2 and showing the lunchbox in combination therewith, and in section.

Figure 4 is a cross section through the folding table on line 4--4 of Figure 2.

Figure 5 is a detail illustrating the node on the end of one of the table legs taken on line 5-5 of Figure 1 showing the node in an opening in the end of the lunchbox.

Referring now to the drawing wherein like reference characters denote corresponding parts the lunchbox folding table of this invention includes an end section It), an intermediate section I I, another end section I2, legs l3 and I4, and a napkin holding receptacle l5 having spring fingers l6 and IT therein.

The end section or panel forming one end of the table is provided with arms [8 and I9 which are pivotally connected to ends and 2| of a lunchbox 22 by rivets 23 and 24, respectively.

Section I0 is connected by a piano hinge 25 to the intermediate section II and the opposite side of the intermediate section I l is connected to the end section [2 by a similar piano type hinge 26.

The opposite end of the end section l2, upon which the legs 13 and [4 are positioned is nested against one side of the base of the lunchbox with the section 10 nested against the opposite side and with the section H nested against the bottom.

The receptacle 15 on the under surface of the intermediate panel H is provided with end walls 21 and 28 and side walls 29 and 30, and spring fingers it are connected to the side wall 30 by rivets or other suitable fasteners 3! and 32. With the parts arranged in this manner paper napkins, wood spoons, forks, knives and the like may be retained by the spring fingers l6 and IT in the receptacle I5 and with the open side of the receptacle positioned against the bottom of the lunchbox the receptacle is substantially closed.

Each of the legs l3 and I4 is provided with a node 33 that is inserted in an indentation or opening 34 in the corresponding end of the lunchbox and as illustrated in Figure 5 the node 33 may form the head of a rivet or the like as indicated by the numeral 35, the rivet being positioned in the opening 36 in the end of the leg 14.

With the parts arranged in this manner the table is readily folded and nested against the surface of the lunchbox as illustrated in Figure 1 and when use thereof is desired the table is opened to the position shown in Figures 2 and 3.

It will be understood that modifications may be made in the design and arrangement of the parts without departing from the spirit of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. A lunchbox table comprising a lunchbox having a rectangular shaped base with side and end walls and having a bottom, a short end panel positioned against one side of the lunchbox, means pivotally attaching one end of the panel to the lunchbox, an intermediate panel positioned against the bottom of the lunchbox and hinged to the said end panel, a box like casing positioned on the under surface of the said intermediate panel, spring fingers extended from one side of the casing across the lower part thereof, a long end panel hinged to the opposite side of said intermediate panel, positioned against the opposite side of the lunchbox and having legs extended therefrom and positioned against the opposite ends of the lunchbox with the table in the folded position, said legs having nodes on the inner surfaces and the ends of said lunchbox having indentations positioned to receive the said nodes for temporarily retaining the table folded against the surfaces of the lunchbox.

2. A lunchbox table comprising a lunchbox having a rectangular shaped base with side and end Walls and having a bottom, a short end panel positioned against one side of the lunchbox, arms extended from the ends of the panel and positioned against the ends of the lunchbox, means pivotally mounting the ends of the arms on the ends of the lunchbox, an intermediate panel positioned against the bottom of the lunchbox and hinged to the said end panel, a box like casing positioned on the under surface of the said intermediate panel, spring fingers extended from one side of the casing across the lower part thereof, a long end panel hinged to the opposite side of said intermediate panel, positioned against the opposite side of the lunchbox and having legs extended therefrom and positioned against the opposite ends of the lunchbox with the table in the folded position, said legs having nodes on the inner surfaces and the ends of said lunchbox having indentations positioned to receive the said nodes for temporarily retaining the table folded against the surfaces of the lunchbox.

PAUL K. RAASCH.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 363,372 Dollens May 24, 1887 458,155 Dieterich Aug. 25, 1891 1,235,433 Burrowes July 31, 1917 1,253,913 Walker Jan. 15, 1918 1,694,283 Reid Dec. 4, 1928 2,065,370 Gelinsky Dec. 22, 1936 2,141,783 Caples Dec. 27, 1938 

